Virtus releases WalkThrough Pro 2.6; Latest version of award-winning 3-D authoring tool now available for Windows 95.

CARY, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 17, 1996--Virtus Corporation, the leading developer of desktop 3-D tools for the Internet, announced today the availability of Virtus WalkThrough Pro 2.6, the latest version of its award-winning 3-D visualization program. This upgrade brings the advanced functionality of WalkThrough Pro 2.5, which runs on Windows 3.1 and Macintosh, to Windows 95 users. This version also offers improved functionality to Macintosh and Windows 3.1 users. WalkThrough Pro 2.6 has a suggested retail price of $495.

WalkThrough Pro 2.6 offers tools for creating navigable 3-D spaces on any desktop computer. Traditional applications of WalkThrough Pro include 3-D visualization for architecture, facilities planning, and film and theatre production. Users can also export these environments to VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language), to quickly author interactive 3-D web sites.

WalkThrough Pro 2.6 provides an upgrade path for users of Virtus' best-selling drag and drop VRML world builder, 3-D Website Builder. WalkThrough Pro provides drawing tools for creating an unlimited variety of 3-D shapes, and high-end editing tools, such as layers and the object-sculpting tumble editor, which enable the easy creation of complex 3-D worlds. Existing models from earlier versions of WalkThrough Pro and models created with 3-D Website Builder can be imported into WalkThrough Pro and enhanced. Users of 3-D Website Builder can upgrade to WalkThrough Pro 2.6 for $199 by calling Virtus customer service (1-800-887-8471 ext. 3050).

For immersive 3-D on the desktop, WalkThrough Pro 2.6 supports split-screen stereo viewing for head-mounted displays and virtual reality glasses from a variety of manufacturers including Virtual i/O, Cybermaxx and VRex. WalkThrough Pro's advanced features also include perspective-correct texture mapping, smooth shading and the option of collision detection.

For those wishing to create and distribute stand-alone models and presentations, WalkThrough Pro 2.6 ships with Virtus Player, a freeware publishing utility that enables anyone to open and freely navigate in and around a Virtus model. Virtus Player is also now available for Windows 95 as well as Windows 3.1 and Macintosh. Other export options include 2-D and 3-D DXF, VRML, PICT, BMP, TIFF, AVI and QuickTime. WalkThrough Pro 2.6 is supplemented by an ongoing series of add-on galleries that greatly cut down on modeling time by providing commonly used, pre-constructed 3-D objects .

Minimum hardware requirements for WalkThrough Pro 2.6 include: 386-based or later PC with 8MB of free RAM running Windows 95. WalkThrough Pro 2.6 is also available for Windows 3.1, Macintosh and Power Macintosh.

Since its inception in 1990, Virtus Corporation has pioneered the development of tools for creating navigable 3-D environments on the desktop computer. Virtus continues to lead the field by extending its 3-D technology to the World Wide Web. Virtus' board of directors includes noted author, Tom Clancy and Dr. Frederick Brooks, author of the Mythical Man Month and founder of the Virtual Reality Lab at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. The company is based in Cary, NC and is privately held.

Ordering information: WalkThrough Pro and 3-D Website Builder may be purchased directly from Virtus by contacting 1-800-847-8871, ext. 3050. Virtus products are also available nationwide at major computer and software stores including CompUSA, Egghead, Fry's and Best Buy. For resellers, Virtus products are available from Ingram Micro, Micro Central and Douglas Stewart.

CONTACT: Virtus Corporation

Ashley W. Sharp, 919-467-9700 ext. 3035

[e-mail]

or

Katy Dunn Communications

Katy Dunn, 919-832-4001, [e-mail]